Strand guiding means for winding machinery



Dec. 18, 1951 P|EPER 2,579,011

STRAND GUIDING MEANS FOR WINDING MACHINERY Filed Dec. 8, 1950 IN V ENTOR. A LPHONSE E PIE PE R BY W v ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 18, 1951 OFFICESTRAND GUIDING MEANS FOR WINDING MACHINERY Alphonse F. Pieper, Brighton,N. Y.

Application December 8, 1950, Serial No. 199,878

8 Claims. (Cl. 242-157) This invention relates to strand guiding meansfor winding machinery, with particular reference to the type ofconstruction that includes a strand guide reciprocable endwise of acone, cylinder or other support on to which the strand or cord is woundand over which it is guided during the winding operation, and it has forits purpose to afford a guide that can be economically manufactured andwhich has a longer life and is more eflicient than devices heretoforeused for the purpose.

Strand guiding heads have generally been made from steel or metal alloyswhich are open to the objection that after the head is used for a lengthof time, the cord which travels over the head in contact therewitheventually forms a groove in the head, and it is one of the purposes ofthe invention to construct the head of such hard durable material as topreclude the possibility of a continuously fed strand in contact withthe head cutting a groove into its surface.

In the case of guiding heads made from metal, the head has beengenerally attached to its supporting bar through a fastening screwextending through the bar and into a tapped opening in the head, whichopening extends entirely through the body of the head and to the surfaceagainst which the cord or strand engages, resulting in somewhat frayingor wearing the strand as it travels over the surface of the headsurrounding the opening, and it is an additional purpose of theinvention to eliminate such opening in the surface of the guiding headagainst which the strand engages and to fasten the head to itssupporting bar in a manner that does not require a tapped openingextending through the body of the head.

A more particular object of the invention is to aiford a constructionthat enables producing a guiding head from ceramic material or othervery hard substance which is not grooved by continuous travel of a cordor strand in contact therewith, and which does not have an openingextending therethrough to the strand engaging surface.

Still an additional purpose of the invention is to afford means forsecuring a guiding head of ceramic or other hard material to asupporting bar by interlocking instrumentalities that avoids tapping ahole into the ceramic material, and which secures the ceramic head toits supporting bar tightly and without likelihood of accidentaldisplacement of the head from the bar.

A further object of the invention is to afford fastening means betweenthe supporting bar and the guiding head including a nut thatinterlockingly engages the ceramic head by an endwise sliding movement,the nut being drawn securely into tight engagement with the ceramic headby a screw which extends through the supporting bar, and which when inoperative position engages the guiding head to prevent endwise movementof the head in relation to the nut and supporting bar, so that in theevent of any slight loosening of the head on the supporting bar, theseparts are not inoperatively separated until the fastening screw has beenso far removed from the nut as to permit its complete disengagement fromthe head.

Still an additional purpose of the invention is to afford a structure inwhich a fastening nut is so constructed and arranged that it can beflexed slightly as it is drawn into engagement with the ceramic head soas to insure tight engagement therewith, while its contact with the headis such as to avoid breaking or fracturing of the interlocking portionsof the ceramic material that engage the nut.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction andarrangement of parts that will appear clearly from the followingdescription when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, thenovel features being pointed out in the claims following thespecification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a strand guiding head constructed in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the invention and showing it at tached toits supporting bar;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the same. partially broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 2, with the fastening meansand surrounding portion of the head appearing in central section;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation, partially broken away;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged rear elevation of the head removed from thesupporting bar;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged end elevation of the head removed from thesupporting bar;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 6, showing the fastening nutin the position it assumes when the head is attached to the supportingbar;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view in rear elevation of a modified form of headremoved from the supporting bar, and

' 3 Fig. 10 is an enlarged transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 5,showing the modified form of head attached to the supporting bar.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which like referencenumerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views, Idesignates the supporting bar which is of conventional construction suchas employed for holding metal guiding heads in operative relation on awinding machine, the supporting bar including inclined side edges 2 thatengage cooperating inclined surfaces on the guiding head as will appearpresently.

The strand guiding head is formed of very hard material, preferablyfired ceramic material such as known in the trade as Heanium, andincludes spaced prongs 3 between which the cord or strand passes at thebase of the recess 4, and an uninterrupted convexly curved surface 5 onone side over and against which the cord engages as it travels thereonto an adjacently positioned cone or cylinder, as well known in thewinding machine art.

On its opposite side, the ceramic head is provided with a positioningrecess defined by oppositely inclined surfaces 6 which engage the abovementioned inclined surfaces 2 on the supporting bar I when the latter isarranged in the positioning recess, flush with the outer rear surface ofthe guiding head, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5.

Beneath the positioning recess, the guiding head is provided with alocking recess defined by opposite inclined or undercut walls I whichpreferably converge outwardly as shown in Fig. 5, the bottom of thelocking recess being defined by a surface 8 which is provided with anopening 9 for a purpose that will appear presently.

Located within the locking recess is a relatively thin and somewhatflexible metal fastening nut I0 provided with opposite inclined surfacesII which are inclined to the bottom of the recess at a sharper anglethan the aforementioned inclined walls I of the recess. As a result ofthis construction, the inclined surfaces II of the fastening nut when infinal position engage the inclined walls I of the locking recess only atthe base of the recess where the ceramic material is strongest andoffers greatest resistance, and the inclined surfaces on the nut areslightly spaced from the adjacent inclined walls of the recess above thebase thereof, permitting the nut to be flexed slightly in an upwarddirection at its central portion when the fastening screw is turnedtightly, while at the same time engaging the ceramic head securely atthe base of the locking recess.

The fastening nut I0 is initially arranged in the locking recess by anendwise sliding movement from the open outer end of the recess, see Fig.6. After the fastening nut is arranged in the locking recess of theguiding head as just described, the supporting bar is positioned overthe fastening nut in engagement with the positioning recess. A fasteningscrew I2 is then attached through an opening provided in the supportingbar for the purpose and brought into threaded engagement with the nut I0and turned until the fastening nut is flexed slightly and the 4 placeupon slight loosening of the fastening screw.

When the ceramic head is initially positioned on the supporting bar, theinner surface of the supporting bar is spaced somewhat from the bottomof the positioning recess and the outer surface of the nut is spacedsomewhat from the inner surface of the supporting bar, while the nut isof sufliciently thin construction to permit slight flexing when thefastening screw is turned down tightly, so that when the parts arefinally secured, the nut is interlocked with the inclined walls of thelocking recess in the ceramic material at the base of the recess or atthe bottoms of the inclined walls of the ceramic body while the centralportion of the nut is flexed somewhat outwardly toward the supportingbar and its outer surface remains slightly spaced from the inner surfaceof the supporting bar. This construction insures a tight engagementbetween the ceramic head, the fastening nut, the screw, and thesupporting bar. To remove the head from the supporting bar, it is onlynecessary to loosen and remove the fastening screw I2 which holds thesupporting bar and head together, after which the nut I0 can be removedfrom the locking recess in the ceramic head by an endwise slidingmotion.

In Figs. 9 and 10, there is illustrated a modified form of constructionin which the locking recess in the ceramic body is provided withinclined walls I3 provided on opposite sides of a central portion I4while the fastening nut I5 includes downwardly and inwardly bentportions I5 at its opposite edges, said portions I6 having inclinedsurfaces I! which are inclined at sharper angles to the base of therecess than the inclined walls I3 of the recess so that the inclinedsurfaces on the nut engage the adjacent inclined walls of the recessonly at the base of the recess and are spaced therefrom above the baseof the recess, thus permitting the fastening nut I5 to be flexedsomewhat at its central area when tension is applied, without likelihoodof fracturing or breaking the central portion I4 of the ceramic body.Except for the variation in the form ofthe fastening nut and thecooperating inclined surfaces of the ceramic head, the structure andoperation of the modified form of Figs. 9 and 10 is the same as thatalready described in connection with Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive.

While the invention has been described with reference to certainstructural embodiments, it is not confined to the precise details hereindisclosed and this application is intended to cover such othermodifications or changes as may come within the spirit and purposes ofthe improvement and the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Strand guiding means for winding machinery comprising a supportingbar having an opening adjacent one end thereof to receive a fasteningscrew and a strand guiding head having a convex uninterrupted surface onone side thereof, the opposite surface of the head having a positioningrecess defined by opposite side walls engaging side edges of thesupporting bar and a locking recess beneath the positioning recess anddefined by opposite inclined walls, a metal fastening nut havingopposite surfaces inclined in the same direction as and interlockinglyengaging the aforementioned inclined walls of the locking recess andpositionable therein by an endwise sliding movement, and a fasteningscrew extending through the aforesaid opening inthe supporting bar andhaving threaded engagement with said fastening nut, the bottom surfaceof the locking recess beneath said nut having an opening to receive theprojecting portion of the fastening screw and acting to limit movementof the supporting bar and nut endwise of the recess.

2. Strand guiding means for winding machinery comprising a supportingbar having an opening adjacent one end thereof to receive a fasteningscrew and a strand guiding head having a convex uninterrupted surface onone side thereof, the opposite surface of the head having a positioningrecess defined by opposite side walls engaging side edges of thesupporting bar and a locking recess beneath the positioning recess anddefined by opposite outwardly converging inclined walls, a metalfastening nut having opposite surfaces inclined in the same direction asand interlockingly engaging the aforementioned converging inclined wallsof the locking recess and positionable therein by an endwise slidingmovement, and a fastening screw extending through the aforesaid openingin the supporting bar and having threaded engagement with said fasteningnut, the bottom surface of the locking recess beneath said nut having anopening to receive the projecting portion of the fastening screw andacting to limit movement of the supporting bar and nut endwise of therecess.

3. Strand guiding means for winding machinery comprising a supportingbar having an opening adjacent one end thereof to receive a fasteningscrew and a strand guiding head of ceramic material having a convexuninterrupted surface on one side thereof, the opposite surface of thehead having a positioning recess defined by opposite side walls engagingside edges of the supporting bar and a locking recess beneath thepositioning recess and defined by opposite outwardly converging inclinedwalls, a metal fastening nut having opposite surfaces inclined in thesame direction as and interlockingly engaging the aforementionedinclined converging walls of the locking recess and positionable thereinby an endwise sliding movement, and a fastening screw extending throughthe aforesaid opening in the supporting bar and having threadedengagement with said fastening nut, the bottom surface of the lockingrecess beneath said nut having an opening to receive the projectingportion of the fastening screw and acting to limit movement of thesupporting bar and nut endwise of the recess.

4. Strand guiding means for winding machinery comprising a supportingbar having an opening adjacent one end thereof to receive a fasteningscrew and a strand guiding head of ceramic material having a convexuninterrupted surface on one side thereof, the opposite surface of thehead having a positioning recess defined by opposite side walls engagingside edges of the supporting bar and a locking recess beneath thepositioning recess and defined by opposite inclined walls, a metalfastening nut having opposite surfaces inclined in the same direction asand interlockingly engaging the aforementioned inclined walls of thelocking recess and positionable therein by an endwise sliding movement,and a fastening screw extending through the aforesaid opening in thesupporting bar and having threaded engagement with said fastening nut,the bottom surface of the locking recess beneath said nut having anopening to receive the projecting portion of the fastening screw andacting 6 to limit movement of the supporting bar and nut endwise of therecess.

5. Strand guiding means for winding machinery comprising a supportingbar having an opening adjacent one end thereof to receive a fasteningscrew and a strand guiding head having a convex uninterrupted surface onone side thereof, the opposite surface of the head having a positioningrecess defined by opposite side walls engaging side edges of thesupporting bar and a locking recess beneath the positioning recess anddefined by opposite inclined walls, a metal fastening nut havingopposite surfaces inclined in the same direction as and interlockinglyengaging the aforementioned inclined walls of the locking recess andpositionable therein by an endwise sliding movement, the inclinedsurfaces on the nut being at a sharper angle to the base of the lockingrecess than the inclined walls of the recess whereby they engage saidwalls at the base of the recess and are spaced therefrom above the baseof the recess, and a fastening screw extending through the aforesaidopening in the supporting bar and having threaded engagement with saidfastening nut, the bottom surface of the locking recess beneath said nuthaving an opening to receive the projecting portion of the fasteningscrew and acting to limit movement of the supporting bar and nut endwiseof the recess.

6. Strand guiding means for winding machinery comprising a supportingbar having an opening adjacent one end thereof to receive a fasteningscrew and a strand guiding head of ceramic material having a convexuninterrupted surface on one side thereof, the opposite surface of thehead having a positioning recess defined by opposite side walls engagingside edges of the supporting bar and a locking recess beneath thepositioning recess and defined by opposite inclined walls, a metalfastening nut having opposite surfaces inclined in the same direction asand interlockingly engaging the aforementioned inclined walls of thelocking recess and positionable therein by an endwise sliding movement,the inclined surfaces of the nut being at a sharper angle to the base ofthe locking recess than the inclined walls of the recess whereby theyengage said walls at the base of the recess and are spaced therefromabove the base of the recess, and a fastening screw extending throughthe aforesaid opening in the supporting bar and having threadedengagement with said fastening nut, the bottom surface of the lockingrecess beneath said nut having an opening to receive the projectingportion of the fastening screw and acting to limit movement of thesupporting bar and nut endwise of the recess.

7. Strand guiding means for winding machinery comprising a supportingbar having an opening adjacent one end thereof to receive a fasteningscrew and a strand guiding head having a convex uninterrupted surface onone side thereof, the opposite surface of the head having a positioningrecess defined by opposite side walls engaging side edges of thesupporting bar and a locking recess beneath the positioning recess anddefined by opposite outwardly converging inclined walls, a metalfastening nut having opposite surfaces inclined in the same direction asand interlockingly engaging the aforementioned converging inclined wallsof the locking recess and positionable therein by an endwise slidingmovement. the inclined surfaces on the nut being at a sharper angle tothe base of the locking recess than the inclined walls of the recesswhereby they engage said walls at the base of the recess and are spacedtherefrom above the base of the recess, and a fastening screw extendingthrough the aforesaid opening in the supporting bar and having threadedengagement with said fastening nut the bottom surface of the lockingrecess beneath said nut having an opening to receive the projectingportion of the fastening screw and acting to limit movement of thesupporting bar and nut endwise of the recess.

8. Strand guiding means for winding machinery comprising a supportingbar having an opening adjacent one end thereof to receive a fasteningscrew and a strand guiding head of ceramic material having a convexuninterrupted surface on one side thereof, the opposite surface of thehead having a positioning recess defined by opposite side walls engagingside edges of the supporting bar and a locking recess beneath thepositioning recess and defined by opposite outwardly converging inclinedwalls, a metal fastening nut having opposite surfaces inclined in thesame direction as and interlockingly engaging the aforementionedconverging inclined walls of the locking recess and positionable thereinby an endwise sliding movement, the inclined surfaces on the nut beingat a sharper angle to the base of the locking recess than the inclinedwalls of the recess whereby they engage said walls at the base of therecess and are spaced therefrom above the base of the recess, and afastening screw extending through the aforesaid opening in thesupporting bar and having threaded engagement with said fastening nut,the bottom surface of the locking recess beneath said nut having anopening to receive the projecting portion of the fastening screw andacting to limit movement of the supporting bar and nut endwise of therecess. ALPHONSE F. PIEPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

